Sydenham Town Forum

Ulysses, your question no 1, Many times I have stood on the old up platform and wondered what thw small buiding was, and I came to the conclusion that it was used as a shelter for "Fogmen". In earlier days, whenever a smog descended, a man would sit close to signals to put a detonator on t...

I am amazed at this collection; it has brought back so many memories of shops that I knew in the twenties/thirties.
I should be glad to add comments if required as so many names of shopkeepers come back to me.
What a wonderful collection

I have just read all the threads on this subject and it would seem that Steve Grindlay has given the correct answer to the question. I would suggest that the word was imported from the USA as, I believe they name their local cinemas, or did, with that handle. Yes, I spent many a Saturday afternoon i...

Thank you for the kind remarks re my memories, may I, with respect, make reference to my thread PostPosted: 24 Jun 2009 20:35 Post subject: Memories of the Crystal Palace in the Twenties and Thirties. I would not wish to repeat any of them but, mention has been made of the giant clock, a picture is ...

MAs I write this item, we are just into November, fortunately the sun is shining as if it is spring, But, in the twenties (and thirties) things were not so pleasant, as November would herald in the foggy season, commencing with Bonfire night on the 5th to the great delight of us kids. For several we...

In reply to the question from Konqi, relating to the aquarium housing an Avery and Menagerie. I am afraid that I cannot recall any such building in my time. I have seen pictures of the building in this forum but can only assume that they were destroyed during the fire that destroyed the North nave, ...

Penge Place I have been following this subject with some interest and can understand the confusion relating to the actual site of the Crystal Palace, as it would appear to be situated in “No Mans Land” between Lambeth, Croydon, Lewisham and Bromley. As a child, I was taught, (at school in Sydenham, ...

The two decades between the two world wars was a period of trying to stabilise living conditions in this country, as was so in other countries that had been involved. Germany was hit by very heavy inflation and the value of money went completely out of control. Strangely though, in the U.K., althoug...

Hi Chelsey, (and others who are interested in the “Twenties and Thirties”>) Thank you for your kind remarks, but can I ask you to remember that for children of that era there were very few distractions for youngsters than we have today. The only electronics available was the crystal wireless set whi...

Sydenham in the twenties. At the time of writing, the holiday season is in full swing, so it would be appropriate to reflect on the season as it appeared in the twenties. Remember that the social conditions were far different from that of today, the depression was approaching and the country was sti...

Does anyone know the history of a tower that we, as kids, knew as Tewksbury Lodge, situated in wasteland behind the grounds of Hornimans Museum? As kids, in the late twenties, we used to explore this derelict tower after tiring of floating our boats on the pond in the museum grounds. It became quite...

Carnival week in the twenties. Every summer, a committee was formed to stage a week of festivities to celebrate carnival. This committee was made up of representatives from various local organisations including the Forest Hill and Sydenham Tradesmen’s Cricket Club and went under the banner of someth...

Just another memory of the 20s/30s : A regular sight in those days was the daily delivery of "Cat meat" by Pussy's Butcher named "Standen" from Stanstead Road, who made a daily delivery on his trade bicycle to the cat popuilation in the local area,. I took pity on "whisky&qu...

In the twenties, it was a yard where the Dustmen left the refuse collected, for disposal. In 1923/4 a tall chimney was built on the site to incinerate burnable rubbish. We called it a "Dusst destructor".I recall the chimney being built as from my home in Burghill Road, we watched men worki...

Steve's contribution to this subject is so helpful, the picture of 59 certainly brought back a few memories for me. I remember it, pre WW2 as selling linoleum and, outside, in Queensthorpe Road would be seen on most days, a costermongers barrow, laden with bananas and attended by a well loved gentle...

Sorry. House of curtains would have been number 59, the record shop was near Boots and Spencers was next to Boots, I believe.
I thought it was an amusing story which I often have a chuckle when I hear the music.

In 1939, 56 was the address of Boots the chemist, I remember the gramaphone emporium which was in that vicinity, possibly 56, which commenced business shortly after the war. I went in to ask for a recording of "Coppelia" and the young assistant had to call the manasger for help and when I ...

Bank Holiday programmes. A special Bank Holiday family programme would be promoted every year to cover Easter Monday, Whit Monday and August Bank Holidays, (With exception of Christmas and Good Friday, they were the only Bank Holidays at that time). The gates and doors would be thrown open early in ...

Viewing Sydenham road via the Google street map, one is amazed to find the disappearance of what used to be the family food shops... not only have so many the elegant stores vanished but it would appear that they are replaced with “Takeaway” shops of all descriptions. Just by perusing the Kelly’s st...

Steve,
Have you a date when the oicture with the nurses was taken? as I had a relative who was on the nursing staff for several years in the thirties.
Regoneil